Occupy Wall Street Protest Enters Day 12

Hundreds of protesters occupying Zuccotti Park in Manhattan are entering their twelfth day of demonstrations, as solidarity and reports of police brutality meet criticisms that the activists are unfocused.

In general, the protesters express outrage over persistent unemployment and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a small percentage of the country. The Web site for the movement describes it’s purpose only as ending “the monied corruption of our democracy.”

Allison Kilkenney of The Nationacknowledged that “super loud and eye catching” demonstrators do exist, and not all attend for clear reasons. But Kilkenney urged observers to take note of the more moderate protesters, like a shy 40-year-old father of two she interviewed.

“My home has been seized, I’m unemployed, there’s no job prospects on the horizon. I have two children and I don’t see a future for them. This is the only way I see to effect change,” he reportedly said, before returning home to his family.

Other videos show the demonstrators organizing a community providing food and medical care.

Compounding the debates are videos that have surfaced of an NYPD officer using pepper spray against a seemingly peaceful group of protesters.

3 Comments »

I think what the cop did was disgusting. He should be fired for his abuse of power. he is just like any other dictator in the world that feels superior based on power. I think police officer Bologna should be fired.

My son and I are traveling from Indiana to New York to show our support in this important protest. We are part of the 99%. Yes there are jobs at Burger King, etc. for minimum wage and I would like to ask those of the 1% if they could survive on those wages. Most of the 99% in the past 20 years have either not received an increase in pay or it has been less than the cost of living. Yet corporation net profits have increased 100% and CEO pay has increased by more than 258%. The corporations are choking us to death and
laughing about it. The Representatives and Senators
spend half of their time raising money for their campaigns and they then propose bills favorable to the corps that donate the most to them. The corporations choose to pay a small fine rather than disclose the amounts they donate. The 99% have been submissive and beaten and when they finally start to stand up and say they just can’t take it anymore and are peacefully protesting they are subjected to ridicule. Not all of the protesters are as informed as they could be but there are plenty of us that are well informed. I am asking those of you that are sick of this to get up and make a statement, we have been submissive too long!

I should add that the Burger King job reference was in relation to a comment made by Harris Gindi (in support of the 1%) to IB Times while he was at Zuccotti Park. Harris Gindi seems to think that as long as you can get a minimum wage job…what’s the problem. This should outrage many!

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